Taking into consideration the National Weather Service's warning urging citizens to use extreme caution due to the unseasonably dry conditions, triple digit temperatures and high humidity, the City of Hazelwood has called off its fireworks show for this Fourth of July.

Hazelwood Fire Chief Dave Radel performed a personal inspection at the event site, which is located at White Birch Park and confirmed the cancellation is what's best.

“Although we regretfully have to cancel our city’s July 4 fireworks display this year, the decision was made to protect the safety of residents and property in and around the park area,” Radel said. “White Birch Park is a unique venue in that it provides a more intimate setting for a rather large and substantial display. 

"However, these same characteristics can provide a problem with drifting fallout from the aerial shells since a tinder dry wooded area is only 47 feet from the fireworks bunker.”

Radel said while inspecting the wooded area inside the park, he found a ravine covered by thick and extremely dry underbrush. 

"The possibility of “wetting down” this exposure would be counterproductive since several water conservation alerts have been issued," he said "Plus, the treacherous terrain could cause injuries to firefighters if they went in to battle a fire."

Radel said the fire department's main concern is public safety when hosting an event of this magnitude.

"Since we have no way of controlling the drifting fallout from the exploding rockets, it only takes a couple of sparks to create a rapidly spreading grass or brush fire which could put our audience members and surrounding properties at risk," he said.  

To read more about fireworks and Fourth of July and Hazelwood's extreme heat see:

• Fireworks are Illegal in Hazelwood, Police Warn of Confiscation and Prosecution
• Independence Day: Facts, Figures and History about the Fourth of July
• Hazelwood Fire Chief Radel's Tips for Beating the Heat
• Hazelwood Opens Cooling Centers for Heat Influx
• 15 Places to Celebrate Independence Day Close to Home
• ER Nurse Talks Fireworks Safety
• HSD Students Performing the The Star-Spangled Banner at Busch Stadium
• Host a Star-Spangled Bash with the United “Tastes” of America This July Fourth
• Fourth of July water safety tips from the federal government's drowning prevention campaign
• Fourth of July: Upload Your Fireworks Photo, Win a Schiller's Gift Card
• Hazelwood Pools Inspect Clean In Time for Fourth of July Holiday
• 1 in 6 Americans Get Food-borne Illness: 4 Steps to a Safe 4th of July Barbeque
• Hazelwood's Fourth of July Fireworks Show to be the Best One Yet
• Missouri Ophthalmologists Caution Parents: Children at High Risk for Fireworks Eye Injuries